April 11,2025, Dr. Susanna Kokkonen
Pearls of the Torah Portion – An Introduction
The original word for the Hebrew Bible is Tanach, which is an acronym of three different words: Torah (Instruction), Nevi’im (Prophets) and Ketuvim (Writings meaning poetry, wisdom literature and historic books). Tanach is called the Old Testament by Christians and as such forms a large part of the Christian Bible.
It is particularly important for Christians to connect to the Jewish roots of their faith. Since Jesus’s earthly life centered around Second Temple Judaism, we want to encourage you to find out more about what that means. Many Christians who have been ignorant of the Hebrew roots of their faith, have been greatly enriched and encouraged by learning and going deeper into these topics.
The Hebrew word for Torah Portion is parashat hashavua. Each week in Jewish synagogues a specific Torah portion Is read attached to that week’s Sabbath. Each Torah portion has an accompanying short haftorah, which is either a portion of the Books of the Prophets or of the Writings. There are 54 such readings. The reading cycle begins and ends on the holiday of Simchat Torah.
This is especially significant now considering recent events. The attack on October 7, 2023, which changed the world to many Jews and Christians worldwide, took place on Simchat Torah.
Our weekly Pearls of the Torah Portion is going to be a unique piece. In so far as possible it is going to be connected it with the Holocaust Garden of Hope exhibits’ content. It will be exciting to see what connection each Torah portion does have either to the Holocaust, anti-Semitism or the stories told in the Holocaust Garden of Hope.
We encourage you to make Pearls of the Torah Portion a regular feature of your Fridays. Remember to share and tell others!
| Coral and crystal cannot be mentioned, and the striving for wisdom [is more precious] than pearls. | רָאמ֣וֹת וְ֖גָבִישׁ לֹ֣א יִזָּכֵ֑ר וּמֶ֥שֶׁךְ חָ֜כְמָ֗ה מִפְּנִינִֽים: |
Job 28:18 (NKJV)
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Matthew 13:45-46 (NKJV)
Torah Scrolls were attacked and desecrated during the Holocaust. The enduring images of the Kristallnacht (November 9-10,1938) are those of synagogues on fire and Torah Scrolls burning. Some of these desecrated Torah Scrolls disappeared, others were buried. Some were lovingly rescued and are on display in museums in various locations.
